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MRI clean, but Aramis to miss time with knee injury

MESA, Ariz. -- An MRI scan of third baseman Aramis Ramirez's left knee on Sunday confirmed the Brewers' best-case scenario: no structural damage.

But he will still be sidelined for some time, manager Ron Roenicke said.

"The MRI was good. It showed what we thought it was," said Roenicke, alternatively describing the injury as a strain and a sprain. "But it won't probably be day-to-day. He's pretty sore today, so whether it's a week or a little more than that, that's probably what we're looking at."

This qualified as good news, Roenicke said.

"I think so, and he was really happy," he said. "I saw him before he left, and he was concerned."

Ramirez was hurt when his knee hit the dirt sliding into second base on Saturday against the Angels. He was moving very gingerly as he prepared to depart Maryvale Baseball Park on Sunday morning for Chandler, Ariz., where he underwent the MRI.

"I'm not feeling too good right now," Ramirez said.

Could this be bad?

"I don't know," Ramirez said. "I've never had a knee problem before. I don't know what to expect. It doesn't feel good right now, but the good thing is it's not swelling right now. It's just sore, so that's good. We'll see -- hopefully it's OK.

"I talked to [Alex Gonzalez, who tore his ACL last season], and it's not the same thing because he told me his knee swelled up right away, and even the next day it got real big, and mine isn't. He told me he couldn't put his pants on, it was so big. [Ramirez's own injury] is not that bad."

The Brewers' medical staff told Roenicke as much on Saturday after examining Ramirez's knee. They did not find signs of structural damage.

Milwaukee is off Monday before returning to host Canada's World Baseball Classic squad on Tuesday at Maryvale Baseball Park. With Taylor Green playing for Canada in the Classic, Jeff Bianchi on Team Italy and Ramirez likely sidelined a few days, the Brewers will cover third base with a combination of Donnie Murphy (who started there Sunday against the Cubs), Bobby Crosby (expected to debut Tuesday after missing time with a quadriceps strain) and Alex Gonzalez (who has played third in Venezuela). The Brewers will also borrow former Oriole Blake Davis from Minor League camp, Roenicke said.